Newsletter: Revised merger control rules to enter into force

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The new turnover thresholds for the notification of mergers and acquisitions to the Norwegian Competition Authority will enter into force on 1 January 2014. It is expected that only about one in five transactions that meet the current thresholds will require notification under the new thresholds.

In most small and medium-sized transactions, the new thresholds will allow the parties to proceed without waiting for merger clearance. However, the Norwegian Competition Authority has the power to review transactions falling below the thresholds. In transactions involving competitors, the parties should therefore analyse the risk of the NCA requesting a notification and consider whether to make use of the option to submit a voluntary notification.